diff --git a/include/ircd/listen.h b/include/ircd/listen.h
index f47336568..717cbf0ed 100644
--- a/include/ircd/listen.h
+++ b/include/ircd/listen.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ struct listener
 
   public:
 	listener(const json::object &options);
+	listener(const std::string &options);
 	~listener() noexcept;
 };
 
diff --git a/ircd/listen.cc b/ircd/listen.cc
index 4e269825a..ffa48abea 100644
--- a/ircd/listen.cc
+++ b/ircd/listen.cc
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ struct listener::acceptor
 // ircd::listener
 //
 
+ircd::listener::listener(const std::string &opts)
+:listener{json::object{opts}}
+{
+}
+
 ircd::listener::listener(const json::object &opts)
 :acceptor{std::make_unique<struct acceptor>(opts)}
 {